Mr Meeseeks

57 minutes ago, Aussieroaming said:

Family tourism, really. Well how about these ass wipes actually let Thai-Foreign family's reunite, that would be nice. Or maybe in future they should issue WP's with marriage certificates? There are many families with children split over this and the as#holes in power have ignored them. 

You can reunite, just not in Thailand at the moment.

Believe it or not, you actually have to have a job to get a work permit.

It's out of the box thinking, almost verging on insanity. Needing an actual job to get a permit to work in a country where you don't have citizenship. Bonkers.

They should just give them out with every bar-fine, or every five birds you meet on TF you get a coupon to apply.

Or something.

1 hour ago, Phil McCaverty said:

A terrible guess says no. I have talked to 3 people in the bar trade in Pattaya who have all indicated June 14th. Government says July 1st or thereabouts. I'm on the ground in Pattaya, lots of indications that its imminent.

Most bar owners tend not to know their bum from their elbow.

Bars will not open before the schools and schools are scheduled on July 1st.

4 hours ago, tomauasia said:

300 ilegàl prostitutes lol

A tired old stereotype.

37 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

Both the Thai PM and the other misfits he employs in government seem to be under the illusion that the world is awaiting him to open the gates to his wonderful Thailand and there is a massive queue waiting to get in akin to a US mad Friday sale!!

 

That ship sailed long ago. They need to drop the ridiculous dream of hi so tourists rushing here or the silly idea it is a world premier resort country, it isn't.

 

It's going to be a long time before people will wish to fly long haul with all the mask wearing and social distancing adding to the already stressful preparations of flying by air. I believe people in the USA and Europe will holiday at home or in nearby countries for the foreseeable future.

 

Nobody who is a normal tourist, (we are not talking about expats or people with Thai wives and kids) is going to accept the ridiculous requirements the Thais are asking for.

 

Thailand is no longer fun nor value for money and hasn't been for a long time. Americans can get far more for the Dollar in the US and Brits and Europeans can get far better deals, especially now, in their home countries or those in the Schengan visa regions of Europe.

 

I am unsure of the Chinese position, but the Chinese government, already facing massive criticism, may not allow their citizens even regional travel for fear of a second wave and their citizens being identified as the cause.

 

Also, if regional travel commences to say Vietnam or Cambodia or Laos, will they attempt to refuse us entry to these countries via land borders or aircraft from Thailand when we live here semi permanently just because we have US or British passports?

IIRC US citizens were prevented from travelling to Cambodia very early on in the crisis.

Not sure if that travel ban is still in effect but I would imagine so.

As to Thailand not being fun anymore, well... that's subjective.

Were they charging extra for this delicacy?

An excellent opportunity for companies in the region to tender for the various contracts that will emerge from the project.

Got to be in the EEC if you are serious about doing business in Thailand. It will be the hub for manufacturing, logistics, shipping, technology, transportation, banking and many other industries. 

Remember, the EEC is ensconced in the constitution now, so it is happening.

18 hours ago, Chang_paarp said:

Bet the directors still get their "benefits". Their pay should be linked to the actual numbers of people going through the airports (Not the fiction published by TAT).

That would be a very poor performance indicator and counter-productive to delivering quality, safety and other desirable goals. 

3 hours ago, Emdog said:

A bonus is a payment that an employer makes to employees on top of their salary, either because the employee did well or the company did well.

Works a bit differently in a lot of Thai companies. It is expected by employees to get bonuses. Indeed, employees often join companies based on the amounts of bonuses and not necessarily the guaranteed salary. KPIs are often overlooked as it is unpalatable for anyone to lose face and bonuses are handed out blanket style.

Once rumours spread of multi-month bonuses being given at certain companies those jobs are coveted and sought after. Three to seven month bonuses, while utterly ridiculous, are not uncommon.

I have worked at Thai companies that had elaborate KPI systems with ISO certifications and still gave poorly performing staff full bonuses, despite lateness, absences and disciplinary actions, year after year.

While this is poor management, and common in Thailand, often this is the way Thai managers appease their staff, gain popularity/respect and keep their jobs.

“and it is one of the tragedies of the half-educated that they develop late, when they are already committed to some wrong way of life”
― George Orwell, Burmese Days

Surprised Thais are allowed to study there after all that happened.

6 minutes ago, sateeb07 said:

I have been saying for a year or 2 that Phuket will be deserted in 3 years but everyone thinks i'm nuts.  They are shooting themselves in the foot with all the greed and overcharging.  Many places cheaper and more welcoming that Thailand now.  We were in Myanmar last year and were pleasantly surprised by how nice it was.  Cheap and great service everywhere we went.  Add to that the fact that the Thai authorities seem to want all of us Farangs out and welcome only Chinese...

Phuket has always been that way and people have been saying that for as long as I can remember, and I have been here nigh on thirty years now.

5 minutes ago, Pattaya46 said:

No option? And what about the Elite Visa? Seems perfect for their case.

Very true, forgot about that. And I know a couple of guys with that and one of them is stuck overseas at the moment because of the lockdown.

2 minutes ago, sateeb07 said:

Hello all.  I work in oil & gas and am a Brit.  Currently stuck in Africa since 25th Feb.  I have a retirement visa for Thailand as i was getting trouble from immigration for entering every other month.  When the borders open for international flights there are conditions.  

Am i classed as resident because of my retirement visa?  I can get a cert to prove i don't have COVID but i do not reside in the UK and they are telling people to contact the Embassy in their own country.  Is there anywhere i can get ac clearer picture of what i need to do to get back?  I have insurance and can get the COVID cert.  Is there private isolation in Phuket?  I will not fly into BKK.  Apologies if all the info is on this forum.  I am at work and not enough time to search everywhere.  

 

Thanks in advance..

You can't get back at the moment under any circumstances. Only foreigners with work permits and those that have got permission from the government to come for work can enter and even then there's conditions attached.

FYI, you are not a resident, if you are here on a non-immigrant visa you are here 'temporarily for purposes other than tourism.' That's your official status on a Non-Immigrant visa extension without work permit.

2 hours ago, treetops said:

When they're here they spend like crazy as they've been locked up, unable to spend for 2, 3, 4 weeks or whatever.  Every baht they spend contributes in VAT, and often other Government duty or import taxes or something similar that ends up in the government's pocket.  Contributors like these should be welcomed by the government IMO.

They are welcomed, as tourists.

1 minute ago, lopburi3 said:

But most tax money is collected from sales and most expats do indeed pay that.  

We are not talking about expats here we are talking about oil and gas guys coming in on 30-day stamps.

You are not an expat if you are staying on tourist visas or 30-day stamps. You are a tourist. Maybe longer term but you are still a tourist.

They of course do this (as I did, once upon a time) to avoid tax in their home country, and do not pay income tax on earnings while de-facto living in Thailand on 30-day stamps.

Why would a government encourage or incentivise tax avoiders to stay in their country?

27 minutes ago, Almer said:

The costs of eating in Los is/has become out if sync also, a pretty standard western breakfast of average quality and dogs sat watching is up around  £6 UK, in the Uk a breakfast with the portion size the same £4 or £5.

Los is cheap to live if you want street food but as soon as you look at Macdonalds or similar it is out of proportion to local wages.

There was a queue out the door of Pizza Company yesterday lunchtime, KFC too for that matter. Nearly all seats occupied due to the volume and social distancing.

Someone needs to go in there and tell them they can't afford it!

15 hours ago, Bender Rodriguez said:

company cannot own the land, only lease... after 30 years...  rebuild everything elsewhere ?

 

smaller companies cannot be owned 100 percent ...

 

the 4 Thais per foreign work permit

 

etc...

This article is about companies relocating from China, not a sexpat trying to buy a bar.

Noe of those issues will affect them or even register on the radar.

BRACE BRACE BRACE

And keep them nasty furriners away!

2 hours ago, PatOngo said:

How many smart ones will be trying to sell the Honda Wave to avoid infection?

It's already been repossessed by the loan shark...